The JIB has re-launched its Skills Development Fund. JIB
The Joint Industry Board (JIB) has announced that it is re-launching its training support programme. The organisation is also running a campaign to encourage JIB companies and employees to take advantage of funding opportunities under the scheme: By James Hunt:
Today, in UK industry, and particularly in the electrotechnical sector, good training is crucial in obtaining the necessary future skills for employers. There’s currently a significant skills shortage and a number of organisations are currently trying hard to address this important issue – among them the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA), which is now one of the UK’s foremost apprenticeship providers through its Product Knowledge training provider, MOL.
Another, though, is the JIB, which sets the standards for employment, welfare, grading and apprentice training in the electrical contracting industry. So it is welcome news that the organisation is re-launching its training support programme – the Skills Development Fund.
Formerly known as the JIB Further Education Fund, which provided financial assistance for courses for those undertaking further education and training in the electrical industry, the new Skills Development Fund provides financial support for courses relevant to the sector, usually at a rate of 50% of the course value up to a maximum of £625 for each course.
For a course to be eligible, the JIB says, it must be over and above the requirements of JIB grading, such as BTEC National Certificates, degrees and foundation degrees, HNCs and ONCs. Moreover, applicants must be either a JIB-graded operative employed by a JIB member company, or a JIB-registered electrotechnical apprentice.
Commented Andy Reakes, secretary to the fund: “As skills shortages in our industry begin to bite, we are determined to make members, and their operatives fully aware of the funds available from the JIB to develop their team, helping to bridge the skills gap through further training.”
For more information on the JIB’s Skills Development Fund, visit www.jib.org.uk/sdfund-employer
Keeping track of your ECS card
In other recent qualifications news from the JIB, ECS cardholders in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are now able to benefit from an online system to keep track of their card. The MyECS facility allows cardholders to view the details the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme holds for them relating to their ECS card and qualifications.
It works like this – following a simple registration process, users can check the progress of a new or renewed card application, view and amend their personal contact details held, review which ECS card/s they currently hold, check which qualifications are registered against their card and confirm their Health & Safety assessment expiry date.
One feature is that users can track an application via a graphical indication of an application’s progress. The website can also be used to renew a card online, which has a faster turnaround time than a postal application and saves the time the application takes to reach the processing team.
Keeping the contact details current on MyECS helps to ensure that people don’t miss out on important renewal reminders. Visit www.ecscard.org.uk/myecs to find out more and to register for access to MyECS.
A more streamlined route
And earlier this year, a newly formed partnership between the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), the JIB and Scottish Joint Industry Board was formed to benefit IET members and ECS cardholders.
Under the collaboration, ECS cardholders can now access a more streamlined route to apply for IET membership. Gold cardholders are eligible for the Technician membership category without any further assessment, whilst those holding black ECS cards can apply for IET Member status. In both instances a supporter for the application is not required.
Furthermore, IET members with the designatory letters TMIET or MIET will be able to obtain a Professionally Qualified Person (PQP) ECS card, following a successful health and safety assessment.
The card, which is affiliated to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, will allow IET members to gain access to construction sites that require a CSCS or ECS card for entry.
